Dewani accused on trial

The man accused of firing the gun that killed honeymooner Anni Dewani has pleaded not guilty at a South African court. A judge said Xolile Mngeni was fit enough to stand trial despite suffering a malignant brain tumour.

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A witness has describes details of how the murder of Annie Dewani was planned during the trial of Xolile Mngeni, who is accused of the honeymooner's murder.

A witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has said that on the eve of Annie's murder he was approached by Zola Tongo, a taxi driver who has already been convicted over the murder, who told him that there was, “a gentleman who wanted to kill a woman”.

The prosecution maintain that this person was Annie's new husband Shrien Dewani, who remains in the UK pending ongoing extradition proceedings.

Xolile Mngeni's trial has been postponed several times because of his poor health. In June last year he had surgery to remove a brain tumour. Mngeni's legal team questioned if he would be fit enough to stand trail.

Mr Dewani, from Bristol, is due at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 18 when the chief magistrate, Howard Riddle, will be given an update on his condition.

Shrien and Anni Dewani Credit: Facebook

Mr Dewani claims he and his wife were hijacked while travelling in a taxi through Cape Town in November 2010. While he was ejected from the vehicle, Mrs Dewani was later found murdered in the abandoned taxi.

He was allowed to leave South Africa before the taxi driver, Zola Tonga, claimed the newlywed had offered him 15,000 rand (around £1,200) to arrange the killing and make it look like a carjacking.